Rind cutter and corer for citrus fruit



M. KROTA.

RIND CUTTER AND CORER FDR CITRUS FRUIT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1921.

1,389,765 Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

' I 1'4 15 10 n I n? I I: if ,4 1 l A; \18 f 12 MICHAEL KROTA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BIND CUTTER com FOR CITRUS FRUIT- Application filed March 19, 1921.

I following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mud and core removing implement intended more especially for use in connection with citrus fruit such as grapefruit.

The invention has for an object to provide a simple, inexpensive implement which will operate eficiently and qulckly to remove the core and rind of the fruit.

A further object is to provide-for read adjustment of the implement/to fruit of di ferent sizes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap ended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a (perspective view of an implement constructe according to the invention, showing 1t in operative position with respect to a section of a grapefruit.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the implement alone.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on the line 3-.-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 4L 41 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 1. 7

As here shown my improved implement comprises a shank-bar 10, preferably of rectangular cross section, and having .a handle 11 fixed to one end thereof in any suitable manner. The opposite end of the bar has adjustably connected thereto a pin 12 which forms the pivot pin on which the implement turns, the manner of mounting this pin being referred to in detail later. i i

The implement is provided with a pair of knives adapted to remove respectively the core and rind and which are carried by the bar 10. To support these knives a pair of similar hollow heads 15 are adjustably mounted on the bar, the vertical dimensions of the openings 16 in the respective heads being somewhat greater than the thickness,

Specification of Letters Patent.

of the heads 15 are clamp screws 25 having Patented Sept.- 6, 1921.

Serial no. 453,630.

verticall considered of the bar 10. Formed I on the ower sides of these heads 15 are basses 17 in which are suitably fixed the haft ends of the knife blades 18 which extend downwardly therefrom andmay be suitably curved to properly engagevthe fruit.

Adjustment of these knives alon the bar 10 is preferably rovided for-as foTlows:

Slidable in soc ets such as 20 in the lower walls of the heads 15 are headed pins 21 which project into the openings 16 and are pressed against the'underside of the bar 10 by light coiled springs 22, a series of rounded notches or recesses 23 being spaced along the underside of the bar 10 to receive the heads of the pins 21.

' Threaded vertically through the top walls rounded heads on their lower ends adapt" to enga e in the proper ones of a second series 0 notches or recesses 26 spaced along the top face of the bar 10, these screws 25 have cross pins 27 fixed in their upper ends to provide handles whereby they may be turned. By threading the screws inwardly until the pins 21 engage the bottoms of the sockets 20 the heads 15 are locked tightly to the bar 10, while the light pressure of the springs 22 on the pins 21 causes the heads of said pins to act as feelers by riding on the notches 23 as the heads are moved along the bar 10 to adjust the positions of the knives 18, so that the proper registry of the pins 21 and screws 26 with the notches 23 and 26 is immediately determined.

Aspreviously pointed out, the pivot in 12 has an adjustable connection with the ar 10, this connection being arranged to permit of the variation of the angular relation of the pin'and bar, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, which variation'may be desirable when operating on different sections of fruit. As here shown the pin 12 has an eye 12' on its upper end which projects between the bifurcated end elements 10 of the bar 10 and takes over a pintle 3O slidable in said end elements, this pintle having heads 31' on opposite ends. The aperture through the eye 12 has a series of angular-1y spaced grooves 32 in the wall thereof while the pintle 3O cwrries a key 33 adapted to fit in either of said grooves 32, the pintle being normally held in position with the key 33 engagingin one ofthe grooves by a coiled expansion spring 34 surrounding one end of the pintle. A key-way 35 is formed in one with the key, which enters t of the elements 10' to slidably receivethe key 33. By moving the pint e 30 against derstood from the above description, the

knives being adjustable to difi'erent size of fruit, the device being inserted into the fruit as indicated in Fig. l with the pin 12 co-' axial with the fruit and upon the handle 11 being revolved on said pin the core and rind will be severed.

Having thus described my invention what claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. A device of the class described, comrising a bar, a ivot pin on one endpf said ar, a pair of knives carried by said bar, and

means for securing said knives to said bar in adjusted ositions longitudinally thereof, and means or varying t e angular relation of said pivot pin with said bar.

2. In a deviceof the class described, a bar,

a pivot pin therefor, a hollow head adjustable alon said bar, a knife secured to said head, sai bar having notches spaced along opposed sides thereof, and clamp elements on said head adapted to engage in said notches, and a spring urging one of said clamp elements into engagement with the said bar.

3. In a device of the class described, a bar, havmg notches spaced along opposed sides thereof, a hollow head adjustable along said bar, a knife fixed to said head, a pin slidable in a socket in said head, a spring urging said pm toward said bar, and a screw threaded into said head in axial alinement with said p n and adapted to bear on said bar in opposltion to sai pin.

4. In a device of the class described, a bar, a knife carried by said bar, a pivot pin having an eye at one end, a pintle slidably carried by said bar and engaging in said eye, the aperture through said eye having a series of circumferentially spaced grooves in its wall, a key carried by the said pintle and adapted to be moved into or out of engagement with a selected groove in said eye by longitudinal movement of said pin.

5. In a device of the class described, a bar, a. knife carried by said bar, a pivot pin having an eye at one end, a pintle slidably carried by said bar and engaging in said eye, the aperture through said eye having a series of circumferentiall' spaced grooves in its wall, a key carrie by the said pintle and adapted to be moved into or out of engagement with a selected groove in said eye by longitudinal movement of said pin, and a sprlng normally holding said pintle in position with the said key engaging in one of said grooves.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

MICHAEL KROTA. 

